The Nation News

Category: News

  • Kogi guber: Protest, counter-protest at INEC Headquarter over transparency in BVAS usage

    By Maxwell Usman, Kogi

    Aggrieved Nigerians who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the November 11, 2023 Governorship election in Kogi State on Saturday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) must be allowed to work in a transparent manner.

    The protest came amid tensions over the use of the BVAS in the Kogi State governorship election held in November last year.

    The demonstrators, under the auspices of the Concerned Kogi Citizens’ Forum, led by Isaiah Davies Ijele, demanded transparency in the use of BVAS, alleging fraud and accusing INEC of manipulating the election results.

    The protesters bore placards with inscriptions such as “Judges, BVAS matters,” “INEC Chairman, BVAS must be transparent!,” “Restore integrity in Nigeria’s elections!,” and “INEC, stop the BVAS fraud NOW”

    The protest and counter-protest follow the dismissal of a petition by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) by the Kogi State election tribunal challenging the poll results, citing lack of evidence.

    Muritala Ajaka, the SDP candidate, has appealed the decision, alleging fraud. He had previously sought to inspect the BVAS materials used in the election.

    The Supreme Court upheld Ajaka’s request, ordering INEC to tender the BVAS devices and documents containing their identification users and a summary of the devices.

    Speaking during the demonstration, Davies said:”We are pro-government, we stand for the Nigerian people, and we support the rule of law. Our purpose is to advocate for the preservation of INEC’s accreditation process. If accreditation were not beneficial, INEC would not have endorsed it.

    “The smart card reader system was introduced in 2019 to eliminate electoral fraud, but it faced issues. Then, INEC introduced the BVAS, which cost over N500 billion. Unfortunately, the reality we are witnessing today does not align with the hope that was instilled.

    “We want INEC to release the BVAS report to prove the election was free and fair. In Kogi State, for instance, the accreditation process would involve ters. However, some university professors

    “We want INEC to release the BVAS report to prove the election was free and fair. In Kogi State, for instance, the accreditation process would involve 100 voters. However, some university professors hired by INEC as returning officers have been observed to announce election result figures that exceed the number of voters accredited. This constitutes electoral fraud. INEC should sanction such returning officers.”

    Meanwhile, the Election Transparency Advocacy Coalition (ETAC), led by Peter Ugwuoke, countered with a protest of their own, backing INEC and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The election in Kogi State was free, fair, and credible. The winner of the election was declared by INEC in accordance with the law. We urge the losers to accept the outcome of the election and congratulate the winner, rather than trying to discredit the election and cause chaos in the state” he stated.

  • Ezeship tussle: Ebonyi govt. denies producing 2 traditional rulers

    Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

    Ebonyi State government led by governor Francis Nwifuru has denied that no two traditional rulers emerged in the recent Ezeship election conducted in the various communities of the state.

    Recall that, one of the Ezeship election/ coronation conducted in Nkomoro community in Ezza north and one other in Izzi turned bloody, as journalists, soldiers and magistrate were seriously attacked by hoodlums who don’t want the election/ coronation to hold.

    The Nations News Nigeria reports that there are serious fight by stakeholders, especially those in power to install relatives as traditional rulers, with the primary aim of getting a duplex and kilometers of roads from the governor, Francis Nwifuru.

    The state government who spoke to newsmen through the commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy matters, Mr. Uchenna Igwe, in Ezza north LGA, insisted that there was no emergence of any two traditional rulers in the various communities visited by his ministry.

    He urged Nigerians, especially the people of the state to ignore all the rumours making the rounds that two traditional rulers emerged in the various communities of the state.

    According to him:”let me correct the impression going on in the state, there is nothing like two traditional rulers in Ebonyi communities.

    “If somebody is trying to create problems, you don’t join issues with the person to escalate the issue, because if you do, you know you will definitely sink with the person. There is no two traditional rulers in Ebonyi State communities.

    “Every community produces one traditional ruler, and it is officiated and supervised by the ministry of local government and Chieftaincy matters” he stated.

  • Nigerians Are Confronting Death Daily – Ex-minister, Dalung

    By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi

    The former minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Selcap Dalung has said that citizens of Nigeria are confronting death daily by hunger, poverty and hardship.

    The former minister made this known in a statement siged and made available through his ofiical Facebook page, saying that people are also dying because of bad leadership, kidnappers, bandits, ISWAP, or suicide induced by depression. 

    “The lamentable state of despair instigated by a callus and clueless leadership can not be further trusted with the liquidation of our future”

    “The casualties of 2023 electoral catastrophe inflicted by intellectual bandits presided by professor mahmood @inecnigeria can not be trusted with further sustenance of flawed polls”

    “Every onlooker is either a coward or a traitor,” Either way, Nigerians confront death daily from all fronts, hunger, poverty, or self inflicted hardship of bad leadership, kidnappers, bandits, ISWAP, or suicide induced by depression”

    “The land is littered with blood, the only available job for Nigerians is attending funeral rites of victims of aforementioned calamities.

    “We either fight for a better future for Nigeria or perish collectively as fools. The blind political leadership cannot act without a push, but who will bail the cat? The NLC, TUC Headquarters are preoccupied with living wages comedy, while ASSU is ranting for improved conditions of service.

    “Where is Wole Soyinka, Tunde Bakare, Femi Falana SAN? Even Omoyele Sowere with revolution now” speaks on both sides of the mouth? Why has el-Rufai, Kayode Fayemi, Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku and co-travellers of “save nigeria group” maintaining undignified silence?

    He said that the appropriate time to rescue is now that citizens are mere walking corpses. Adding that in the circumstances, silence is complicity, let’s unite and rescue Nigeria now.

    The former minister said that “Each generation must come out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it” Franzt Fanon. 

  • Ex-Kogi lawmaker, Taiwo begs Nigerians to Stop raining curses leaders

    Ex-Kogi lawmaker, Taiwo begs Nigerians to Stop raining curses leaders

    By Odimayo Olatunde, Kogi

    A Chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi State Nathaniel Taiwo has admonished Nigerians to cultivate the habit of praying  for the leaders at all levels and stop raining curses at them when things are not going well. 

    Taiwo, who is a former  member of the Kogi State House of Assembly gave the admonition while speaking with  journalists in Lokoja on Friday.

    He pointed out that it is only prayers that can help direct the leaders in their  ways rather than wanting to bring them down , adding that Nigerians should encourage the leaders to do more.

    “Whenever I see people raining curses on those in authority, I am not always happy.

    Raining curses on people in government will not solve our problem but make it worse.

    ” Nigerians should go beyond this pull down syndrome and inculcate the habit of praying for the leaders in government. When we do this,  I am very sure that Nigeria will be better” he stated.

    He explained that despite the current challenges President Bola Tinubu’s administration will make progress in tackling various issues militating against the nation now.

    He added that the country will soon experience tremendous progress under the leadership of President Tinubu, stressing  that Nigerians should rather encourage him  more to succeed.

    The Kogi ex – Lawmaker also lauded the administration of Governor Usman Ododo for the sensitivity on the security of the State ,urging him to step up the Security architecture in the State.

    Taiwo also commended  Governor Ododo for his quick response to ensure the  returns of the students of Confluence University of Science and Technology CUSTECH , Osara who were abducted by the kidnappers at the campus of the institution recently.

    He however lamented the loss of two male students who were shot dead by the kidnappers , praying that may the state never experience such again . 

    He scored Ododo high in his approach to the payment of salaries in the past few months of the administration , noting that education  ,health and other sectors are receiving adequate attention under his leadership in the state .

    The APC chieftain commended the immediate past administration of Yahaya Bello for the establishment of Kogi State University (KSU), Kabba.

    On Senator Sunday Karimi , the former Chairman urged the People of Kogi West Senatorial District to give the Senator a chance to work. 

    He pointed out that though he is not the senator’s personal assistant , stressing that he has worked very hard to ensure that  the ongoing palliative works on Kabba-  Egbe – Ilorin road are possible.

  • Stop promoting atrocious ethnic agenda in Kogi, -Group warns

    Stop promoting atrocious ethnic agenda in Kogi, -Group warns

    By Odimayo Olatunde, Kogi

    A group, Election Transparency Advocacy Coalition, has warned politicians to stop promoting ethnic agenda in Kogi State.

    The group in a press conference on Friday in Lokoja also gave pass mark to the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC for conducting a free and fair election in the November 11 governorship election won by Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.

    The coordinators of the coalition, Barrister Oluchi Anabude and Peter Ugwoke who jointly addressed the press conference berated some politicians fanning  embers of disunity in the state to desist henceforth.

    “Those who lost the 2023 governorship election in the state are pouring their frustration on the Independent National Electoral Commission and sponsoring campaign of calumny against the Commission for performing its constitutional duty”.

    “Kogi is a state for all who are its indigenes and not an ethnic enclave of any particular tribe as those  merchants of division are making it look like”. they added.

    “We are here today in solidarity with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which has become a target of unfair and wicked propaganda by politicians who are bad losers.

    “INEC is doing its best within the political environment it operates in,  to deliver free, fair and credible elections in the country even if under extremely challenging conditions. 

    “Since that time, politicians from the state who promote atrocious ethnic agenda  have been all over the place running down the Commission and sponsoring all sorts of campaign of calumny against INEC for doing its constitutionally assigned duty of conducting election.

    “Kogi is a state for all who are its indigenes and not an ethnic enclave of any particular tribe as these merchants of division are making it look like. They are taking out their frustration on INEC without any justification by being purveyors of falsehood and wicked propaganda to discredit the said election which they lost woefully. 

    “INEC is not their problem. Their problem is themselves and their candidate who did not have the political status and structures to win even his local government. They can only thrive in propaganda and blackmail and these do not win elections but expose those who engage in them as mere noise makers and serial election losers. 

    “All lovers of democracy in this country know that the November 11th 2023 governorship election in Kogi State was conducted by INEC with professional competence which made the election a substantially true reflection of the choice and wishes of the Kogi State electorate. 

    “All the unnecessary noise being made about BVAS is a product of unfounded allegations that have no basis in fact. That is why these detractors failed woefully to provide any concrete proofs or evidence of the phantom allegations they propagate in Court. That was why they lost the election and also lost their petition in court. 

    “Courts deal with evidence before them, not orchestrated shenanigans by frustrated politicians of no value” the group said.

    The coalition urged INEC not to be distracted by those it described as political merchants of fake news, and further commended the electoral body for doing its best.

    “We commend INEC for a job well done and at the same time condemn the activities of disgruntled politicians who sponsor atrocious propaganda against the Commission which has been improving its capacity to conduct seamless elections across board. 

    “We urge the Commission to refuse to be distracted by political merchants of fake news and division who are desperate to bring the Commission to disrepute with their narrow ethnic agenda,” they added.

  • IPOB dissociates itself from USA lawsuit against Ex-gov. Obiano

    By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha 

    Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Thursday, disassociated itself from an alleged lawsuit against the former Anambra State Governor, Willie  Obiano in the United States of America, USA, by acclaimed IPOB members. 

    The movement through her spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said in a release that the information of the purported lawsuit against Chief Willie Obiano came to IPOB as a surprise. 

    “Let it be on record that IPOB leadership has not authorized anyone or group of persons to sue anyone in the USA. IPOB did not institute any court case against the former Governor. The proponents of the purported court case are not representing IPOB. The so-called court case was instituted by those who wish to rubbish IPOB’s name, DOS and the leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. 

    “IPOB leadership and members in America are not aware of the plaintiff in the purported  court case against Willie Obiano. IPOB cautions those pursuing their sinister agenda to stop impersonating IPOB. If they wish to take Chief Willie Obiano to court, they should do so with their names and desist from using IPOB’s name without authorization.

    ” IPOB is a disciplined institution that will not allow anyone or group of persons to use our name without authorization. Therefore, IPOB demands that those that instituted the so-called case against Chief Willie Obiano without authorization to withdraw the purported case or  have IPOB to contend with. If they have any case against Willy Obiano, they should do so with their individual names or group names,’ the movement warned.

    Consequently, IPOB demands from the former Governor Obiano, the names of the impersonator plaintiffs on the suit if they fail to withdraw the case with IPOB as the plaintiff. 

    “It is most likely that the impersonators want monetary compensation from Chief Obiano. 

    IPOB will not allow anyone or group to defraud with our hallowed name. IPOB members are under command and control and can not do anything without leadership authorization. The claimants in the USA court against Chief Willie Obiano are not representing IPOB, IPOB affirmed.

    It therefore made it clear to the public, the USA Government and the USA Courts that IPOB did not institute any case against Chief Obiano in any court in USA

  • ‘How i fought against certificate racketeering, sorting in Uyo varsity- Ex-VC, Ekpo

    ‘How i fought against certificate racketeering, sorting in Uyo varsity- Ex-VC, Ekpo

    By Lovina Anthony, Akwa-ibom 

    The former Vice chancellor of the University of Uyo, Akpan Hogan Ekpo on Wednesday has revealed how he fought against certificate racketeering and sorting to a standstill at the university, even to the expense of his life, when he was the Vice Chancellor of the institution.

    He however, harped on the need to sustain the standard and height the institution had attained over the years.

    Ekpo made this known during a Valedictory Seminar and book presentation titled “Essays in Public Finance’ organized in his honour by the department of Economics of the University.

    He noted that having tackled the issue of certificate racketeering in UNIUYO, the quality and integrity of the institution was restored even as he encouraged the current VC, Nyaudo Ndaeyo to sustain the tempo.

    The former vice chancellor, Ekpo disclosed that while attempting to deal with the issue (certificate racketeering) as the VC then, someone called and advised him not to do it, in order not to lose his life.

    According to him, “Cultism was a very big deal, but the issue of certificate racketeering was the major problem, I don’t think I have ever said it before.

    “When I started the attempt to check the problem, someone in the state called me, prof,  leave it alone; this has been going on for more than 13 years, before they kill you, but i said thank you sir, nobody lives forever, i will do my best. 

    ”When we discussed the issue, he called me and said do you have any juju? I said no, I only carried the Bible and he was surprised. That was what we did to retain the quality and integrity of the University. It was not easy but we thank God that we are here. The issue of sorting was also a big problem, but we had to work on it” he said.

    While acknowledging all for being part of the efforts to raise the standard of the University, Ekpo, specifically appreciated the Vice chancellor of the University, Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, for sustaining the standard of the Institution. 

    In his remarks, the VC, Ndaeyo, while appreciating God for His enormous blessings upon the celebrant described him as an ‘Icon and a legend’ whose contributions towards shaping the economic and financial policies of Nigeria have  been worthwhile. 

    ” In fact, Akpan Ekpo is an Icon, a colossus, in fact, a legend because some of the policies we had in Nigeria, in Economics and Public Finance were from him, so on his own he has provided blocks to enable this country to come up the way it is today”. Ndaeyo said. 

    Earlier, in his welcome address, the head, department of Economics of  the University, Paul Orebiyi, while describing professor Akpan Ekpo as  a titan and juggernaut noted Ekpo is worth celebrating because of his contributions to public finance and the subject of Economics generally. 

  • ASUU protest, threatens strike action, gives FG 2 weeks ultimatum to complete 2009 renegotiated agreement 

    ASUU protest, threatens strike action, gives FG 2 weeks ultimatum to complete 2009 renegotiated agreement 

    By Lovina Anthony, Akwa-ibom

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Uyo branch has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to complete the 2009 renegotiated agreement it had with the union or risk industrial action.

    The Nations News Nigeria reports that association made this known during a public sensitization protest that took place at the University of Uyo town campus on wednesday.

    The Chairperson of ASUU, Opeyemi Olajide who spoke during the protest recalled that in 2022, Public Universities embarked on eighth months strike over the issue and had to come back to classrooms in obedience to rule of law regretting that two years after; federal government seemed adamant to complete the agreement and attend to their demands.

    He explained that the union reached out to relevant authorities to intervene and make the government do the needful to avert any disruption to academic activities, but, there was no positive result stressing that if after two weeks nothing was done, the union will shut down the universities and send the students home.

    “We are telling the government and the public that if in the next two weeks nothing is done, ASUU is going to embark on yet another strike and students will be sent home.”

    The Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Calabar zone, Happiness Uduk addressing the protest disclosed that the Federal government still owes lecturers in public schools three and half months salary.

    She noted that public universities are not functional as expected when compared with the private universities urging the federal government to make deliberate efforts to resuscitate the public educational system.

    According to her, “Enough is enough! The government is not taking care of public institutions yet they are establishing their own private universities where they are taking our resources to, where they are taking our taxpayers monies to. Federal government has about two weeks to do something and if not so, ASUU will down tools, that is what we want to tell people that it is not well with us, 

    we are asking the government to pay us our EAA, they should care for universities they brought and not to bring up more universities without taking care of them.”

    On his part, the former Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Aniekan Brown said the union over the years had been clamouring for “education for all.” He noted that the workload of lecturers are not commensurate with their pay and called for an increment of salary.

    Brown lamented that despite the meagre and static salaries given, the rate of taxation by the FG was unbearable as a lecturer pays upto 90 percent of his/her salary as tax.

    His words, “It’s quite sad that some lecturers have upto 48 credit loads per week, they teach on Saturdays, and yet their take home pay will not take them home. I want to say that it’s not possible for one to work on an empty stomach. The last time something was added to our salaries was in 2009 and as a Christian, only one Being is the same yesterday, today and forever which is Almighty God, but the Federal Government is compelling our salaries to compete with God and as a Christian I stand against that.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Akwa Ibom State University Chapter, Inyang Udosen said the union joined the protest in solidarity with the University of Uyo and other public universities pointing out some challenges bedeviling the State University even as he called on Akwa Ibom State government to increase their wages to meet the current economic realities.

  • Hardship: Tinubu vows to build 50,000 housing units to Nigerians in 3 months

    ….warns contractors against substandard jobs in Ebonyi 

    By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki 

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on Wednesday has warned contractors handling the 250 Housing Units of the Renewed Hope Estate, Ebonyi, against delivering substandard jobs in the State.

    The President, Tinubu made this known during the Ground breaking of the Renewed Hope Estate, Ebonyi, at Umuoghara Community in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, said that his administration prepared to build 50,000 housing units no Nigerians.

    Dangiwa who assured the people of the State that the project will be completed within to the period of three months added that different categories of jobs will be provided for Nigerians across the Country.

    He noted that the project will open doors for beehives of economic activities, that will boost commerce and employment in the State.

    Tinubu emphasized that the ground breaking ceremony was a testament to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assurances of providing improved welfare and better standard of living for all Nigerians.

    “We will not tolerate any sub substand work. This project will be completed in 3 month’s time as the repayment for the Housing Units will take 30 years. The project promises to provide jobs for 6000 persons of different categories. Economic activities will be boosted with the sales of  building materials, among others. We are particular on giving Nigerians value for their money.

    “Ebonyi State was the first to provide land for this project. By this project, it is now clear that the Tinubu-led administration is committed to fulfilling its promises to Nigerians.”

    In his remarks, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State who commended the Federal Government for initiating the project added that the construction of the Housing Units was an indication of the premium the Federal Government places on providing better welfare for all Nigerians.

    Represented by his Deputy, Mrs.Patricia Obila, the Governor stated that the project will not only provide jobs but also stimulate economic activities in the State.

    “The indigenes of Ebonyi State should be considered during the allocation of the Housing Units to Nigerians. Ebonyi under my watch is safe for investors.”

    in his view, the Chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State,  Chief Ogodo Ali Nomeh assured the Federal Government that his LGA will provide adequate security for the Contractor and workers handling the project.

    He stated that the project will bring about massive infrastructural development of the host community even as he thanked Governor Francis Nwifuru for approving the location for the construction of the Housing Units.

  • Benue: Ex-gov. Ortom cautions Alia not to use fake figures to discredit his financial records 

    Benue: Ex-gov. Ortom cautions Alia not to use fake figures to discredit his financial records 

    From Attah Ede Makurdi 

    The former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday, cautioned his successor, Hyacinth Alia not to use fake figures to discredit his financial records.

    He challenged the governor, Alia to better make the hidden motives of his  administration known to Benue people, rather than using the  name of Ortom to announce inflated and non-existent figures, regarding the state resources as is currently doing.

    Ortom who was reacting to a statement made against him and credited to governor Alia, noted that the Alia administration appears to be obsessed with his name as  former governor, as they miss no opportunity to throw darts at him branding him with all manner of negative hues.

    The former governor who spoke through his Media Aide, Terver Akase in a statement he issued and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said he read a media report attributed to Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia in which he was quoted to have claimed that his administration inherited N359 billion in salary arrears from his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom. 

    According to the report, Governor Alia made the allegation in Okpoga, the headquarters of Okpokwu local government area of the state.

    Akase said that the former governor, Ortom would have ignored the allegation but silence, as they say, is consent.

    He explained that going by Governor Alia’s claim that he inherited N359 billion in salary arrears, the unfounded impression created is that the past administration of Governor Ortom did not pay salaries for five years (60 months)!, asking how possible is this? 

    According to him, the narrative is not only ridiculously fictitious, but is also a deliberate flip-flop to mislead the people, stressing that Chief Ortom left office more than a year ago but his successor and his team can’t get off his back.

    “Governor Alia and his men seem to forget that the campaign period is over and they are now in government to serve. The people who voted for governor Alia won’t ask for a scorecard titled ‘Samuel Ortom’ at the end of the day.

    “Governor Ortom also inherited debts in 2015, but he went on to pay seven months arrears and also implemented a 27% increase in teachers’ salaries. He implemented N18,000 minimum wage for teachers as well, the same way he later implemented the N30,000 minimum wage for workers.

    “Curiously, the same government told the people via a statement by Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary in June last this year that Governor Ortom handed N187.56 billion to them as debt, which was the same amount the former Governor mentioned while presenting handover notes to his successor on May 28, 2023, to which the former Governor gave a detailed presentation in his handover notes on the efforts his administration had made to reduce the debt to the barest.

     “What the present government is saying about the state debt now is contradictory and politically motivated. Governor Alia and his team are quick to gleefully talk about finances as they affect the previous administration, but quickly recoil into silence whenever a question is put to them on how they are managing resources of the state”. 

    “There has been zero accountability since Governor Alia took over on May 29, 2023! The present administration has not told Benue people that since May 2023 when President Tinubu approved the removal of fuel subsidy, Benue, like other states, has been receiving federal allocations three times higher than what the previous government received” he stated.

    “If Governor Alia wants the people to believe his narrative, his government should publish the financial records and prove that it inherited N359 billion as salary arrears from the Ortom administration.

    “We wish to once more urge the Governor to concentrate on governance in order to fulfill his promises to the people as campaigns are over” he noted